Friday Reflections

Today I remember my Grandpa.  He’s still alive, but I haven’t seen him in years.  He and my Grandma are divorced, but they were married throughout my childhood.

My Dad wasn’t around and my Mom did a great job of playing both roles, but I would spend the summers at Grandma and Grandpa’s and Grandpa was like a father to me.  Grandpa was (probably still is) a baseball fanatic.  He’s a die hard Cardinals fan, so naturally, I had to be a die hard Cubs fan.  He coached little league and I played on his team.  There isn’t a whole lot I remember about childhood.  I mean specifics as I remember places, houses, etc., but I vividly remember baseball practices and playing catch every day with my Grandpa.  I remember getting hits and looking over at him on the bench, seeing him clap and smile.  It was never spoken, but I imagine I received a little preferential treatment on those teams.  I remember pitching one night in what they called “major league.”  That’s between little league and the babe ruth league.  I was mowin em down man….I can’t even remember whether we won or lost, but I remember that the games were 6 innings long and I had a shutout through 5.  I remember my arm being so tired at the beginning of the last inning and I recall walking the first 3 batters.  I just gave Grandpa a look, I guess, that said, “I just can’t do it.”  Grandpa came out to the mound, took the ball, and as I was about to cry and walk away, he grabbed my arm and said, “regardless of what the scoreboard says at the end, you won this game.”

Isn’t it funny what we remember?  I couldn’t have been more than 10 years old, but I remember that like it happened a few minutes ago.  Wow, I miss that man.  Ya know what, I’m gonna call him.  I may be a million miles away, but just to hear him would be great.

Is your Grandpa still around?  How long has it been since you spoke to him?  Maybe it’s your Grandma, an Aunt, or maybe for some of you, your Mom or Dad.  Give em a call today and tell them how much you love them.  It may be just what they need.